Engine block and lubricant cooling system



Sept. 10, 1968 R, P. ERNEST ET AL 3,

I ENGINE BLOCK AND LUBRICANT COOLING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 2. 1967 i4 i4 jfl Folerl h/ dley eff/(Z8472; w l4 W United States Patent 3,400,694 ENGINE BLOCK AND LUBRICANT COOLING SYSTEM Robert P. Ernest, Dearborn Heights, Wesley J. McLean,

Farmington, and Norman D. Postma, Dearborn Heights,

Mich., assignors to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn,

.Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 613,610 6 Claims. (Cl. 123-4133) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An internal combustion engine cylinder block having a coolant passage cast in the block lower wall portion at the point of connection to the oil pan rail to cool the lower block portion and simultaneously aid in cooling the lubricating oil. A second vented passage is provided between the coolant passage and the inside of the block to intercept coolant leakage along the seal between the block and oil pan rail, to prevent contamination of the oil by the coolant.

This invention relates, in general, to an internal combustion engine. More particularly, it relates to an engine cooling system.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a construction for simultaneously cooling the lower portion of an engine cylinder block and aiding in cooling the engine lubricating oil.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an engine cooling system including a passage cast in the lower part of the cylinder block at the point of attachment to the oil pan, the passage facing and being closed by a soft gasket or similar pliable sealing member between the block and crankcase attachment flange.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an engine block and oil pan rail cooling system of the type described above including a second passage cast in the block lower wall at the oil pan rail and laterally spaced from the coolant passage, the second passage being vented to the atmosphere and intercepting leakage of coolant flow towards the lubricating oil.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reference to the succeeding detailed description thereof, and to the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an internal combustion engine embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating a detail.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a portion 10 of the lower half of an internal combustion engine cylinder block. The upper portion 12 of the block is angled to define one of two longitudinally extending banks of cylinders for a V-type engine. The lower portion 14 has a thicker cast portion 16 to provide the necessary structural rigidity for the support of the crankshaft, in a known manner.

The bottom or terminus of portion 16 has essentially a flat surface 18. The right angled flange 20'of a conventional oil pan 22 is secured against surface 18, by bolts 24, with a pliable or soft gasket or sealing member 26 between. The oil pan is filled with engine lubricant 28, which is circulated in a known manner to provide the desired lubrication of the engine.

A trough-like shaped passage 30 is cast or otherwise provided in the lower cylinder walls. It extends longitudinally through the walls, and is open to gasket 26, which closes and partially defines the passage. Engine coolant 32 is supplied to passage 30 in any suitable manner, not shown, the coolant being under pressure by a lubricant pump, not shown, in a known manner for forced flow 3,400,694 Patented Sept. 10, 1968 through the passage. While only one passage has been shown, it will be clear that the opposite portion of the cylinder lower walls, not shown, would also contain a similar passage, and that as many passages as are deemed necessary could be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

Spaced laterally from coolant passage 30 is a second fluid passage 34 (FIGURE 2) also cast longitudinally through the cylinder wall. It has a trough-like shape closed by sealing member 26, and in this case, is vented or drained to the outside of the engine to the atmosphere through suitable ports, not shown. This second passage 34 acts as a leakage trap or vent both for the coolant in passage 30 and the oil in pan 22, in a manner now to be explained.

In normal operation, the crankcase, that is, the engine portion directly above the level of lubricant in the oil or lubricant pan 22, would be at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric due to, among other reasons, the pumping action from blowby past the engine pistons, and ram inlet pressure through the air inlet breather tube. As stated previously, the coolant in passage 30 would be at a pressure higher than atmospheric, and higher than the crankcase pressure. Passage 34 is at atmospheric pressure. It will be clear, therefore, that any leakage of coolant from passage 30 along gasket 26 will flow either towards the outside of the engine or towards passage 34, and any leakage of oil from the crankcase along the gasket will also flow towards passage 34. Accordingly, second passage 34 will intercept any leakage of coolant that might otherwise contaminate the engine lubricant, and vent it to the atmosphere. It will be seen, therefore, that second passage 34, together with the essentially flat bottom cylinder wall surfaces and gasket 26 form a labyrinthian-like seal between coolant passage 30 and the oil in pan 22.

While not shown, it will be clear that a small thermostat could be inserted in coolant passage 30 to retard or prevent flow therethrough until a predetermined temperature of the coolant has been obtained, thus improving engine warmup in a known manner.

From the foregoing, it will be clear that as the coolant flows in passage 30, it will simultaneously absorb the heat of the lower cylinder block walls, and through the soft gasket 26, the heat conducted from the oil 28 through the oil pan to the flange or rail extension 20. The coolant thus simultaneously dissipates the heat to the lower cylinder walls, and aids in cooling the lubricating oil in pan 22.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention not only provides a cooling system for simultaneously cooling the lower portions of the engine cylinder walls and aiding the cooling of the oil for lubricating the engine, but also provides a means for preventing communication between the engine coolant and lubricating oil to prevent contamination of either by the other.

While the invention has been shown in its preferred embodiment in the drawings, it will be clear to those skilled in the arts to which the invention pertains that many changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A combination cylinder block and engine lubricant cooling system for an engine having an oil pan rail secured to the lower extremities of the walls of said block with a sealing member therebetween, comprising a pressurized coolant containing passage partially defined by and extending from said sealing member through a portion of one of the said walls for the simultaneous transfer of heat from said walls to said coolant and from said rail through said sealing member to said coolant.

2. A cooling system as in claim 1, said passage having essentially a trough-like shape in cross section having its open portion contiguous to the surface of said wall engaged by said sealing member.

3. A combination cylinder block and lubricant cooling system for an engine having an essentially fiat engine lubricant pan rail secured to essentially matingly shaped lower extremity surface portions of the walls of'said block with a pliable sealing member therebetween, comprising an engine pressurized coolant containing passage in said block wall extending to and open at one portion of said surface for the simultaneous cooling of said portion of said block and said pan by the transfer of heat therefrom to said coolant.

4. A cooling system as in claim 3, said passage having essentially a trough-like shape in cross section having its open portion contiguous to the surface of said wall engaged by said sealing member.

5. A cooling system as in claim 3, including a second fluid passage in said wall partially defined by and extending from said sealing member and spaced from said coolant containing passage, said second passage being vented and at a pressure therein less than the pressure of said coolant whereby leakage of said coolant from said coolant passage along said sealing member towards said second passage effects a venting of said leakage coolant through said second passage.

6. A combination cylinder block and engine lubricant cooling system for an engine having a crankcase open at the bottom and an oil pan secured by an oil pan rail to the lower extremities of the walls of said crankcase with a pliable sealing member therebetween, the interior walls of said crankcase and pan being subjected to slightly higher than atmospheric pressure, the outer walls of said crankcase being at atmospheric pressure, comprising, a longitudinally extending passage in at least one of the crankcase walls defined in part by said walls and in part by said sealing member, said passage containing an engine coolant under pressure greater than said oil pan pressure for the transfer of heat from the oil in said pan to said coolant through said rail and said sealing member, and the simultaneous transfer of heat from the walls of said crankcase to said coolant, and a second longitudinally extending passage between said coolant passage and the crankcase interior walls, said second passage being vented to the atmosphere, said second passage being defined partially by said crankcase walls and partially by said sealing member, whereby leakage of coolant from said coolant passage along said sealing member and leakage of oil from said pan along said sealing member is vented to said atmosphere through said second passage.

No references cited.

WENDELL E. BURNS, Primary Examiner. 

